Programs & Services

Programs:

The Adult Family Homes (AFH) services is offered through the ARChoices Home and Community-Based Waiver. The AFH are set up to provide personal care and supportive services (e.g., attendant care, transportation and medication oversight (to the extent permitted under State Law), that is provided in a certified private home by a principal care provider who lives in the home. AFH services provide a family living environment for adults who are functionally impaired and who, due to the severity of their functional impairments, are considered to be at imminent risk of death or serious bodily harm and, as a consequence, are not capable of fully independent living. AFH Services are provided in a home-like setting. The provider must include the beneficiary in the life of the family as much as possible. The provider must assist the beneficiary in becoming or remaining active in the community.
Adult Family Homes add a dimension of family living to the provision of supportive services and personal care services such as:
A. Bathing
B. Dressing
C. Grooming
D. Care for occasional incontinence (bowel/bladder)
E. Assistance with eating
F. Enhancement of skills and independence in daily living
G. Transportation to allow access to the community

A Medicaid home and community-based program that provides attendant care, Home-Delivered Meals, Personal Emergency Response System, Adult Day Services, Adult Day Health Services, Facility-Based Respite Care, In-Home Respite Care, and Environmental Accessibility Adaptions/Adaptive Equipment to individuals age 21 through 64 with a physical disability or individuals who are 65 and older. These individuals must meet the criteria for intermediate nursing home care. The individual

A statewide program, that advocates for the rights of long-term care residents. It is a statewide program of community advocates that addresses the complaints of nursing home and residential care facility residents. Its representatives provide information on facilities, work for systematic change, and monitor the activities of the regulatory system.

The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an innovative model that enables individuals who are 55 years of age or older and certified by the state to need nursing facility care, to live as independently as possible. Through PACE, fragmented health care financing and delivery system comes together to serve the unique needs of the enrolled individual with chronic care needs. The population served by PACE is historically very frail. The PACE organization must provide all needed services to the PACE participant.

(SFMNP) is a USDA funded program that provides low-income seniors (60+) with coupons that can be exchanged for locally grown eligible foods (fruit, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs) at participating farmer’s markets and roadside stands. In Arkansas, the SFMNP is available in nine counties of northwest Arkansas, as follows: Benton, Carroll, Boone, Marion, Baxter, Washington, Madison, Newton, and Searcy. To enroll in the SFMNP a person must be age 60 or older, live in one of the participating counties, and have an income level within 185% of the poverty level. For information on enrollment contact the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas at 1-870-741-1144.

You must be at least 16 and less than 65 years of age. You must also have a significant disability expected to last at least 12 months or to result in death. Eligibility is determined using Social Security Disability guidelines. Unlike receiving Social Security benefits, you may work full-time and earn more than what is allowed under Social Security benefit guidelines (SGA limit).

The Arkansas Lifespan Respite Coalition is a collaborative partner with the Department of Human Service Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) for the Arkansas Take the Time Lifespan Respite Program. The Coalition is represented by family caregivers, respite providers, and members of the aging, disability and health services networks. Everyone is welcome

The Choices in Living Resource Center is an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC). We provide helpful information about long term services and supports in Arkansas.
Trained Counselors are here to help you sort through the many options that are available and to assist you in making informed decisions. Anyone may contact us for assistance at 1-866-801-3435

A growing number of Home and Community based programs are available as alternatives to Nursing Facilities. While a Nursing Facility is the right option for some people, others may find help is available to keep them at home. If you would like to talk to a counselor about your options, call toll free 1-866-801-3435 or email choicesinliving@arkansas.gov.

Nursing facilities across the US have been completing assessments on individuals since 1990 and began transmitting the information into the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services depository in 1998. Effective October 1, 2010, nursing facilities across the US began using a new iteration of the Minimum Data Series (MDS 3.0).
The MDS is a standardized, primary screening and assessment tool of health status which forms the foundation of the comprehensive assessment for all individuals of long-term care facilities certified to participate in Medicare or Medicaid.